The works of the Reverend and learned John Lightfoot D. D., late Master of Katherine Hall in Cambridge such as were, and such as never before were printed : in two volumes : with the authors life and large and useful tables to each volume : also three maps : one of the temple drawn by the author himself, the others of Jervsalem and the Holy Land drawn according to the author's chorography, with a description collected out of his writings.

SECTION XXIII.

That this story of Jethro is misplaced, and why.

THAT this story is misplaced, is plainly by these things: First, Jethro, Moses Fa∣ther in Law, took a burnt offering, and sacrifices for God, vers. 12. Secondly, Now on the morrow, Moses sate to judge the people, vers. 13. and made them know the Statutes of God, and his Laws, vers. 16.

But as the story lyeth here, there was no Tabernacle nor Altar for Sacrifice yet built; Neither as yet did Moses know the Statutes and Laws of God himself, for as yet they are not come to Sinai.

Thirdly, Moses himself telleth that the choosing of Judges and Elders, which was done upon Jethroes Counsel, was not till their departing from Sinai. The Lord your God spake unto us in Horeb, saying, You have dwelt long enough in this mountain, &c. And I spake unto you at that time, saying, I am not able to bear you my self alone, &c. Deut. 1. from vers. 7. to 19.

So that this story should lye at the 10 of Numbers, and come in betwixt the tenth and eleventh verses of that Chapter, and the story to be conceived thus. When Moses had received all the Laws which God would give him at Sinai, from Exod. 20. to the Law of the silver Trumpets, which was the last, Numb. 10. then came Jethro, and brought Moses's Wife and Children, and seeing him toyling in judgment, he adviseth him to chuse Judges to ease him; which being done, ere long the cloud removed, and they must flit from Sinai, vers. 11. When they are ranked to march, Moses desireth H••bab or Jethro his Father in Law to go along with him, which he denyeth, but returneth to his own Country, Numb. 10. 29, 30, 31, 32. compared with the last verse of this Chapter. Thus lyeth the order of the story. Now, the reason why it is misplaced is this. In the last verse of the preceding Chapter, there is a perpetual curse decreed against Amaleck, The Lord hath sworn that the Lord will have war with Amaleck, from generation to generation. Now the Midianites and Amalekites lived so promiscuously together, that they were as one people, and the Kenites, or the family of Jethro, dwelt in the midst of them, 1 Sam. 15. 6. Therefore that it might be observed that Jethro fell not under that curse of Amaleck, Moses bringeth him in coming to the Camp of Israel, and to God, as soon as ever the curse is uttered, that every eye might presently observe that Jethro was exempted from it.

Object. But Moses and Israel, by this account lay almost a twelve month at Sinai, be∣fore his Wife and Children came at him, and can this be thought, that they should be so unnatural one to another?

Answ. This was Moses his doing, not of unnaturalness, but piety, to restrain their coming, till his great task of receiving and giving the Law, and building the Taberna∣cle was over; Letters and Visits passed betwixt them there is no doubt, and they kept at distance thus by consent for a season.

That letters passed may be collected from vers. 6. 7. And Jethro, Moses Father in Law, said unto Moses, I Jethro thy Father in Law, come to thee. And Moses went out to meet his Father in Law. Jethro said not thus to Moses his face, I am come to thee: For then why or how upon this tidings, could Moses go forth to meet him, when they spake face to face already? Nor could this speech be delivered by a messenger, for it had been an improper and senseless speech of a messenger to say, I Jethro come to thee: but this Jethro himself telleth Moses by letter, before he cometh at him, whereupon Moses goeth forth to meet him.